Flights to Manchester

Manchester is a city brimming with history and it’s been at the centre of innovation for decades – from building the first passenger railway station to the invention of the computer.

This is where Rolls met Royce, where Bob Dylan first plugged in his guitar and played electric and where the first public library was established. Will your flight to Manchester result in something similarly seismic? Or will you just enjoy some of the best restaurants, nightlife venues and hotels in the UK?

If you want to learn more about Manchester’s past, check out one of the many museums in the city. The Museum of Science and Industry and the National Football Museum are highlights. If the weather’s nice, make like the locals and head for the hills – literally. Manchester is surrounded by the Pennines and the Peak District, so it’s perfect for walking, climbing, biking and hiking.

Just make sure you’re back in the evening, when Manchester’s brilliant music scene comes alive. Few cities can claim such a cool musical lineage – for a taste, check out the Salford Lads Club, where you can re-create The Smiths’ iconic Queen Is Dead album cover. You can see up-and-coming bands at vintage venues such as the Deaf Institute and the Apollo.

In recent years, Manchester has become just as famous for its food as for its music scene, with lots of new restaurants raising the bar and causing a stir. Spinningfields has become a foodie destination to rival the best of them. And the Christmas markets pull in visitors from across the world as soon as the first hint of festive chill sets in. Add to that chart-topping bands and you’ve got a city with serious heart and soul. As Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown once said: “Manchester has everything except a beach.”

What to do in Manchester

Visit the National Football Museum

Manchester is the home of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Manchester City. While the guided tours of both clubs are interesting, be sure to check out the National Football Museum for a fascinating and interactive look at the history of the game.

Urbis Building
Cathedral Gardens
M4 3BG
+44 161 605 8200

Visit People’s History Museum

Manchester’s canals and Victorian warehouses may have been spruced up, but this city is where the Industrial Revolution took shape. Visit the People’s History Museum to learn more, or simply get out and about. See the gothic Town Hall, the Manchester Art Gallery or book a walking tour.

Visit Manchester Art Gallery

The Lowry might be the place to start for famous Manchester artists, but Manchester Art Gallery has an enviable collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings and consistently excellent temporary exhibitions. The Whitworth is worth checking out too, with its 55,000-strong collection of paintings and textiles.

Manchester Art Gallery
Mosley Street
M2 3JL
+44 161 235 8888

Where to eat in Manchester

63 Degrees (French)

The Northern Quarter is full of relaxed restaurants, cafes and lounges that don’t expect you to book ahead, so walk around and see what takes your fancy. 63 Degrees is a lovely authentic French restaurant that brings a little taste of Paris to the North West.

104 High Street
M4 1HQ
+44 161 832 5438

The French (British)

Simon Rogan – whose Cumbrian restaurant L’Enclume has two Michelin stars – came to Manchester in 2013 to work his magic on The French at The Midland Hotel. Be sure to try the 10-course tasting menu – it’s one of the top Manchester dining experiences.

The Midland Hotel
Peter Street
M60 2DS
+44 161 932 4198

Sam’s Chop House (British)

For an atmospheric slice of Victorian life, try this beautiful gastropub with a restaurant attached. Their corned beef hash – 10 days in the making and a classic British dish – is rightly famous. And if you can’t get a booking, try one of the other two Chop Houses – Tom’s and The Albert Square.

Back Pool Fold
Off Cross Street
M2 1HN
+44 161 834 3210

Places to stay in Manchester

Velvet

If you want to be in the heart of the action, head to this boutique hotel on Canal Street, close to lots of Manchester’s best lounges and nightlife venues. There are 19 stylish rooms to choose from, and The Restaurant downstairs is a Manchester destination in its own right.

2 Canal Street
M1 3HE
+44 161 236 9003

The Lowry

The Lowry was Manchester’s first ever five-star hotel, and today it continues to attract discerning guests. Don’t be surprised to bump into footballers who’ve just joined United or City, or international pop stars playing the nearby arena. Located right by the Irwell River, there are great views of Santiago Calatrava’s Trinity Bridge.

50 Dearmans Place
Chapel Wharf
M3 5LH
+44 161 827 4000

Radisson Blu Edwardian

The Radisson Blu Edwardian is a city centre hotel with a rich history. It used to be Manchester’s Free Trade Hall, which has seen speeches by everyone from Winston Churchill to the Dalai Lama, and iconic concerts from Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd. This is a cool place to stay if you’re a music or history buff.

Peter Street
M2 5GP
+44 161 835 9929

Plan your trip

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The Northern Quarter, Manchester

The Book Barge, Barton Marina, Staffordshire

After spending several years in London as an entertainment reporter, Sarah took “six months out to go travelling, fell in love with indolence and resolved never to work again”. A return home and a wander around the local marina one day proved prescient. “All those paper-backed journeys were still with me,” she says. “Books and boats could go together just as girl-Poirot and ponies once had.” A barge was for sale. Sarah had to have itRead more The Book Barge, Barton Marina, Staffordshire

Lunch with Simon Rogan at The Cornerhouse, Manchester

Kaye Martindale talks to Simon Rogan, one of the UK’s most creative chefs, over a plate of ragu at Manchester’s The Cornerhouse. Its restaurant’s head chef, Carlton Anglin, is faced with the daunting task of cooking for a man whose restaurants have a total of three Michelin stars and whose Lake District destination restaurant, L’Enclume, was voted number one in the UK by The Good Food GuideRead more Lunch with Simon Rogan at The Cornerhouse, Manchester

Most popular destinations from Manchester (MAN)

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